Bragato Wine Awards 2004 – Red Wine Reigns
Monday 30 August
Bragato Wine Awards 2004 – Red Wine Reigns
The tenth annual Bragato Wine Awards results were announced in Blenheim on Saturday night at an awards dinner attended by over 530 grape-growers, viticulturalists, winemakers and other wine industry representatives.
The Bragato Wine Awards are unique as they aim to recognise the grape grower, viticultural excellence and vineyard management. The competition is held annually in conjunction with the grape and wine industry Romeo Bragato Conference.
The Champion Wine of the Show and winner of the prestigious Bragato Trophy was Robin Dicey of Central Otago, for the Mt Difficulty Pipeclay Terrace Pinot Noir 2002. The Mount Difficulty Pinot also collected the Champion Red Table wine accolade and the Mike Wolter Memorial Trophy for Champion Pinot Noir Table Wine. The Champion White Table wine trophy was awarded to Murray Trower of Matua Marlborough Vineyard for the 2003 Shingle Peak Botrytis Riesling. Champion Sauvignon Blanc, the Cardmember Wines Spence Brothers Trophy, was awarded to Gisborne grower Geoff Thorpe of Riversun Vineyard for the Amor-Bendall Sauvignon Blanc Limited Edition 2004. Marlborough grower Kathy Lynskey received the Tom McDonald Memorial Trophy for Champion Classical Red Table Wine for Kathy Lynskey Wines Marlborough 15 Rows Reserve Merlot 2002.
Further to the Trophies, the following Best Class Awards were also announced:
BEST AMATEUR Max Gifford Stembridge Sauvignon Blanc 2004
BEST CHARDONNAY Hermann Seifried Seifried Estate Winemakers Collection Barrique Fermented Chardonnay 2003
BEST SAUVIGNON BLANC Geoff Thorpe Riversun Amor-Bendall Sauvignon Blanc Limited Edition 2004
BEST GEWURTZTRAMINER Ben & Frances Wickham d’Auvergne Block Waipara Hills Marlborough Gewurtztraminer 2003
BEST DESSERT WINE Murray Trower Matua Marlborough Shingle Peak Botrytis Riesling 2003
BEST CABERNET SAUVIGNON Robert Newton Cornerstone Newton Forrest Cornerstone 2002
BEST MERLOT Kathy Lynskey Kathy Lynskey Wines Marlborough 15 Rows Reserve Merlot 2002
BEST PINOT NOIR Robin Dicey Mt Difficulty Wines Mt Difficulty Pipeclay Terrace Pinot Noir 2002
BEST SYRAH Rex & Maria Sunde Fantail Island Artisan Fantail Island Syrah 2002
The Bragato Awards were judged under the auspices of Competition Director Mark Compton and Chief Judge Professor Ivan Donaldson. A complete list of medal winners can be downloaded from www.nzwine.com/news.
ENDS